Gavin Crosisca

Biography

Crosisca received little fanfare in a long and honorable career after moving from Queensland and was the Magpies’ quiet achiever for over a decade.

He joined Collingwood after having had just one senior season with the Western Districts club in the QAFL. He regularly topped the Collingwood lists for shepherds and tackles and while his input did not attract the attention of the average watcher, the Collingwood hierarchy always ranked his importance highly.

Wearing the No. 28, Crosisca’s long kicks out of defence and great stamina were a feature of the Magpie backline from his earliest years and he was a handy part of the 1990 premiership team. While his natural role should have been as a half-back flanker he was frequently pitted against tall-forwards and took on the challenge with unflinching determination.

There was a question mark over his career in mid-1997 when he was dropped to the reserves, but he re-invented himself when placed on the wing and enjoyed the relief of not having to stand taller, bigger players.

It was indicative of his talent that he ran second in the 1998 best and fairest in a season when he was approaching his 30th birthday. In earlier years he had twice run third.

He avoided media attention and would chide others who sought the limelight. Those close to him at the club put it down to a natural shyness.

An unusual sidelight on Crosisca’s CV was that he played state of origin football for Queensland, Victoria and the Allies because of changing eligibility rules.